David Lee Simpson, Who ‘Planned to Gut Nancy Grace Like a Deer’: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

David Lee Simpson has been arrested after allegedly plotting to tie up and kill Nancy Grace and Jane Velez-Mithcell. The New York native who had bombarded the TV anchors with Twitter death threats was apparantly preparing to actually carry out the murders before the police thwarted his plans.

Here is what you need to know about the man whose obsession with Jodi Arias fueled his desire to brutally kill two TV personalities.

1. He Was Furious Over Their Jodi Arias Trial Coverage

Jodias Arias — the woman convicted for brutally killing her boyfriend— is at the center of this bizarre story.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says David Lee Simpson became upset by the two female anchors’ comments on the case. Simpson also is accused of threatening a Phoenix woman who defended the anchors online.

2. Simpson Was ‘Infatuated’ With Jodi Arias

Simpson apparently became obsessed with Jodi Arias during the broadcast of her trial. Arias was convicted in May of killing her boyfriend in Arizona in a case that received widespread media attention. Sheriff Arpaio told a press conference:

Evidently, Simpson was infatuated with Jodi Arias. He also told an employee where he worked previously that he wanted the hang the commentator by her feet and gut her like a deer. These were some of the Tweets that came over.

3. He Wanted to Tie Grace and Velez-Mitchell to a Tree Naked Before ‘Slitting Their Throats’

Velez-Mitchel (L) and Nancy Grace were targets for Simpson

David Lee Simpson, threatened the female anchors with violently gruesome tweets. One of the tweets said that he wanted to tie them naked to a tree, “leave them to suffer all night,” and then slit their throats. He also reportedly stated he wanted to “gut them like a deer.”

Share this bizarre story!

4. He Was Found With Weapons, Handcuffs and a Clippings Related to the Sandy Hook Shooting

27 people, including 20 children, were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre on December 14.

Simpson was arrested by a Bath police officer after a traffic stop. Police found several guns, ammunition, handcuffs, a police radio, zip-ties, binoculars, and a knife. Bizarrely, they also discovered newspaper clippings related to the Newtown, Conn. mass shootings in December, among others.

“This suspect was on his way south with enough weapons in his car to do serious harm to someone,” said Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz. “Fortunately, we acted quickly enough, and in doing so, were able to stop him before anything could transpire.”

5. Simpson Had Quit His Job and Planned to Leave Town

David Lee Simpson

Simpson had quit his job and told his former employer he was planning to leave town. Simpson had previously been indicted on charges related to computer tampering and stalking.